Any advice on how to tackle W5R3 when you are asthmatic?

[TopCat22]

I’ve managed to complete Week 4! Yay! It’s taken me 6 months to get this far! 🤣 I had never run before in my life, and my calf running muscles were so weak I kept straining them initially, until a physio told me I had to take the programme really slowly and have more than one rest day to recover and not move up to the next week until my calves felt they were ok. So, now, I finally have the W5R3 in sight. My concern is my asthma. Cardio-fitness wise I am certainly fit enough to do it, and I am hoping my calf muscles are now strong enough to handle it (though they do feel like they are starting to cramp up after 5 minutes at the moment), but I always have to stop to use my inhaler after the first 5 minutes of running, despite having used it a few times when warming up. I really don’t want to have to stop to use my inhaler but I know I won’t be able to run the 20 minutes without using it. Any suggestions?

It’s my worst time of year for asthma. It triggered more by the cold in winter than pollen in the summer

I was thinking I could run for 5 minutes warm-up rather than doing the walking but I’m concerned that will mean I’m running for 25 minutes altogether and I’m not sure my calves are ready for that yet. I’m not sure what’s the best thing to do. Has anyone else got asthma and got any suggestions?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

For asthma that is triggered by cold it can be improved by wearing a buff across your mouth and nose, so the sir is warmed before inhalation.

If you can control the asthma then you should have no problems with the run. This breakdown may help healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Regarding cramping, is your hydration adequate?

Do you stretch after every run?

[ACBW Graduate]

Hi TC,

I’m asthmatic too and autumn is my nemesis as the trees start doing things that have my lungs seizing up. The first ten or fifteen minutes are definitely the worst until my lungs warm up a bit. Things that have helped me include picking the time of day carefully, some nice steady breathing if I start to feel tight (in through the nose 2,3,4 - you get the idea) and not being ashamed to walk for a couple if minutes if I need to.

I’ve found that (until autumn struck) my asthma is getting better now that I’m running. Really noticed that around week 5.

Hope the next run goes okay 🤞

[FurtherFaster]

I'm asthmatic too and found it really helped when I started taking my inhaler about 5 minutes before a run if I new it was likely to be a tough one on the lungs! Really helped and I felt like I had enough oxygen from the get-go.

[TopCat22]

Thank you for the helpful tips everyone

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

I don't have asthma myself but I guess the only think to be aware of is making sure your medication is reviewed regularly. Are you on a preventer too?

I know that many runners find that their asthma improves with running but of course this is all dependant on the different triggers that people have.

Good luck.🙂👍

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Have you tried a turbohaler? They’re specifically for sports. Also, when it gets really cold, try running with a buff over your mouth 👍🏽

[TopCat22 in reply to Tasha99]

Oh no, I haven’t, in fact I’ve never heard of a turboinhaler! I’ll look into it, thanks. The buff idea is a good idea. I sometimes put my gloves over my mouth when I’m walking which does help a bit